Law Academy graduation to be held on April 27

The Otero Junior College Law Enforcement Training Academy will graduate 12 students on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 11 a.m. in the Student Center Banquet Room at OJC.

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By OJC Staff

LA Junta Tribune - La Junta, CO

By OJC Staff

Posted Apr. 23, 2013 at 1:00 PM

By OJC Staff
Posted Apr. 23, 2013 at 1:00 PM

The Otero Junior College Law Enforcement Training Academy will graduate 12 students on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 11 a.m. in the Student Center Banquet Room at OJC. This class will be the 31st class to graduate from the Law Academy since it was established in 1999.

Miner Blackford, academy director, will welcome the graduates and their guests, followed by opening remarks by Jim Rizzuto, president of Otero Junior College. The keynote address will be given by Brian Witt, from Flagler, and a student in the academy.

Graduates from the Spring 2013 Law Academy include:

Lisa Boatz, Colorado Springs;

Chris Fleckenstein, Sterling;

Jonathan Hernandez, Lamar;

Marty Maes, Rocky Ford;

Dakota Meabon, Greeley;

Travis Peery, Wray;

Jose Pina, La Junta;

Robert Pino, Monte Vista;

Edgar Rodriguez-Becerra, Lamar;

Khandala Stanley, Rocky Ford;

Juan Trancoso, Trinidad; and

Brian Witt, Flagler.

A reception will follow the ceremony for graduates, family and friends.

Every peace officer in Colorado is required to complete a basic law enforcement training academy. Approximately 1,200 people complete basic academies per year.

Academy minimum curriculums are set by the Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), a division of the Office of the Colorado Attorney General. Academies may add additional hours and classes to fit their needs.

Most OJC Law Enforcement Training Academy graduates come from small towns and eventually work in small, rural agencies. This allows the OJC curriculum to focus on preparing students to become active members of their communities and enforce the law when the subject may be someone they know very well, such as their next door neighbor, their child's third grade teacher, or someone they sit next to in church.

The OJC Law Enforcement Training Academy (OJC-LETA) curriculum contains 70 separate courses from basic writing and verbal communication skills to Constitutional Law to proper use of force and officer survival training. OJC-LETA is a one semester, 15 week, 40 semester hour training course. Classes run six days per week with eight to 12 hours of instruction per day. OJC offers an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement in conjunction with successful completion of the academy.

Enrollment for the Fall Law Enforcement Training Academy is now open. Fall Semester begins Aug. 19, 2013. For more information about the registration process, contact Miner Blackford, academy director at 384-6867.